Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery
The parcel delivery activity is carried out all over the world and workers in this sector have suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the strong demand for work generated by the recent increase in e-commerce. This study aimed to evaluate postal workers' pain symptoms, movements a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund
2022-04-01
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| Series: | EXCLI Journal : Experimental and Clinical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.excli.de/index.php/excli/article/view/4857 |
| _version_ | 1797843542528229376 |
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| author | Lincoln Silva Nélson Costa Carolina Schutz Rosa Irandir Izaquiel Paulo Natália Mattos da Silva Cesar Giracca Sabrina da Silveira Simões Adriana do Nascimento Aquini Giselle Merino Eugenio Andrés Díaz Merino |
| author_facet | Lincoln Silva Nélson Costa Carolina Schutz Rosa Irandir Izaquiel Paulo Natália Mattos da Silva Cesar Giracca Sabrina da Silveira Simões Adriana do Nascimento Aquini Giselle Merino Eugenio Andrés Díaz Merino |
| author_sort | Lincoln Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The parcel delivery activity is carried out all over the world and workers in this sector have suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the strong demand for work generated by the recent increase in e-commerce. This study aimed to evaluate postal workers' pain symptoms, movements and identify MSDs risks related to the parcel processing activity for delivery, proposing preventive measures. A sample of thirty-two workers was evaluated with the application of sociodemographic and Nordic questionnaires and electrical bioimpedance. The motion capture sensors were used to evaluate right/left shoulder joints, segment C7-T1 (Cervical) and segment L5-S1 (Lumbar) of three postal workers (percentiles of anthropometric data: 5, 50, and 95) during four real work activities that are part of the parcel processing. The analyzed workers presented musculoskeletal complaints in practically all body regions, with a greater prevalence in shoulders, hands, lower back, and knees. According to the Body Mass Index (BMI), they were on average overweight (27.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2). In the movement analysis, we identified risks related to cervical protrusion, anterior trunk flexion, and shoulder flexion, in addition to repetitive movements. In some activities, the higher stature showed an increase in lumbar and cervical anterior flexion. The set of evaluations showed that the activity of processing orders for delivery offers musculoskeletal risks. We identify that ergonomic adaptations are necessary to adapt the heights of the work environment to the statures of the postal workers. Relevance to industry: The activity of processing orders for delivery is carried out practically all over the world generating jobs and income for its employees. Nonetheless, there are still situations of ergonomic disadvantage that can generate musculoskeletal risks. The findings elucidate ergonomic risks and provide useful information for future ergonomic interventions in the postal/delivery workplace environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:06:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ebeddc50fcdf46fe846ae8c09c4c6923 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1611-2156 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:06:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EXCLI Journal : Experimental and Clinical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebeddc50fcdf46fe846ae8c09c4c69232023-04-20T13:21:01ZengIfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, DortmundEXCLI Journal : Experimental and Clinical Sciences1611-21562022-04-012174475610.17179/excli2022-48574296Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for deliveryLincoln Silva0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4689-4738Nélson Costa1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9348-8038Carolina Schutz Rosa2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6647-774XIrandir Izaquiel Paulo3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3483-9632Natália Mattos da Silva4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8483-6555Cesar Giracca5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7075-281XSabrina da Silveira Simões6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2645-2799Adriana do Nascimento Aquini7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4647-0038Giselle Merino8https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4085-3561Eugenio Andrés Díaz Merino9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7113-6031ALGORITMI Research Centre (Portugal). Minho University – Azurém, Guimarães, PTALGORITMI Research Centre (Portugal). Minho University – Azurém, Guimarães, PTUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SCUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SCUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SCUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SCEmpresa Brasileira de Correios und Telégrafos (ECT), BrasiliaEmpresa Brasileira de Correios und Telégrafos (ECT), BrasiliaUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SCUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SCThe parcel delivery activity is carried out all over the world and workers in this sector have suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the strong demand for work generated by the recent increase in e-commerce. This study aimed to evaluate postal workers' pain symptoms, movements and identify MSDs risks related to the parcel processing activity for delivery, proposing preventive measures. A sample of thirty-two workers was evaluated with the application of sociodemographic and Nordic questionnaires and electrical bioimpedance. The motion capture sensors were used to evaluate right/left shoulder joints, segment C7-T1 (Cervical) and segment L5-S1 (Lumbar) of three postal workers (percentiles of anthropometric data: 5, 50, and 95) during four real work activities that are part of the parcel processing. The analyzed workers presented musculoskeletal complaints in practically all body regions, with a greater prevalence in shoulders, hands, lower back, and knees. According to the Body Mass Index (BMI), they were on average overweight (27.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2). In the movement analysis, we identified risks related to cervical protrusion, anterior trunk flexion, and shoulder flexion, in addition to repetitive movements. In some activities, the higher stature showed an increase in lumbar and cervical anterior flexion. The set of evaluations showed that the activity of processing orders for delivery offers musculoskeletal risks. We identify that ergonomic adaptations are necessary to adapt the heights of the work environment to the statures of the postal workers. Relevance to industry: The activity of processing orders for delivery is carried out practically all over the world generating jobs and income for its employees. Nonetheless, there are still situations of ergonomic disadvantage that can generate musculoskeletal risks. The findings elucidate ergonomic risks and provide useful information for future ergonomic interventions in the postal/delivery workplace environment.https://www.excli.de/index.php/excli/article/view/4857musculoskeletal disordersparcel processingmotion captureanthropometric data |
| spellingShingle | Lincoln Silva Nélson Costa Carolina Schutz Rosa Irandir Izaquiel Paulo Natália Mattos da Silva Cesar Giracca Sabrina da Silveira Simões Adriana do Nascimento Aquini Giselle Merino Eugenio Andrés Díaz Merino Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery EXCLI Journal : Experimental and Clinical Sciences musculoskeletal disorders parcel processing motion capture anthropometric data |
| title | Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery |
| title_full | Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery |
| title_fullStr | Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery |
| title_short | Ergonomic assessment of postal workers’ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery |
| title_sort | ergonomic assessment of postal workers pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery |
| topic | musculoskeletal disorders parcel processing motion capture anthropometric data |
| url | https://www.excli.de/index.php/excli/article/view/4857 |
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